Quantifying amino acid and protein substitution using Raman spectroscopy

Raman spectroscopy can be a powerful tool for the characterization of modified amino acids and proteins. In addition to the potential for quantitative results, it offers the advantage of not requiring any sample preparation. Modification of amines and thiols on amino acids and proteins are common reactions used for medical, biological, food, and agricultural purposes. We hypothesized that the Raman spectrum could be used to quantify the reactions and would be more informative than typical characterization techniques such as the ninhydrin test. To prove the hypothesis, the amino acids alanine, cysteine, and lysine were modified with ethyl vinyl sulfone (EVS) using a nucleophilic addition reaction known as the Michael addition and the product was characterized using Raman spectroscopy. The Raman spectroscopy results were compared with ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy results based on ninhydrin analysis of the modified amino acids. The Raman spectroscopy analysis was able to discern site‐specific reactions on the amino acids and suggested that more amino acid moieties were substituted than predicted using the ninhydrin test alone. Substitution of the full protein ovalbumin with EVS showed similar results. The ninhydrin test showed the substitution of primary amines and thiols but could not detect substitution of secondary amines remaining after loss of the primary amine. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Carotenes and carotenoids in natural biological samples: a Raman spectroscopic analysis

Raman spectroscopic studies of a range of naturally occurring carotenoids in over 50 specimens of plant tissue and a range of standard extracts have been undertaken, and the characteristic bands of CC and C C stretching and C CH bending have been recorded. Comparison of the spectroscopic data with the chemical assignment of the carotenoids from chemical extraction of the plant tissues reveals that there is a problem in the interpretation of the spectroscopic data which can be attributed to significant wavenumber shifts, particularly in the CC stretching band wavenumber, for carotenoids in the organic tissues arising from molecular interactions between the carotenoid and its host matrix. The simple identification of carotenoids in biological tissues on the basis of comparison with the standard spectra of extracted material must be made with caution; the progressive shift in wavenumber of the CC stretching band in the conjugated polyene chain of carotenoids with the number of CC groups, and hence the identification of the carotenoid, cannot be unambiguously interpreted for the range of materials studied here. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

表面增强拉曼光谱对于蛋白质二级结构的酰胺III谱带表征

本文利用斜角沉积法制备银纳米棒阵列基底用于蛋白质二级结构的检测,结合酰胺Ⅲ谱带光谱分析,建立了一种基于表面增强拉曼光谱(SERS)蛋白质二级结构的表征方法.用这种方法获得了两种典型蛋白质(溶菌酶和细胞色素C)的SERS信号.通过分析蛋白质骨架酰胺Ⅲ的光谱,研究了浓度对蛋白质折叠状态的影响.结果表明在一定范围内随着浓度的增加,溶菌酶的α-螺旋结构和β-折叠结构成分增加,而细胞色素C的二级结构基本保持不变.     

The use of Raman spectroscopy in food processes: A review

Raman spectroscopy is a novel method of food analysis and inspection. It is highly accurate, quick, and noninvasive. The investigation and monitoring of food processing is important because most of the foods humans eat today are processed in various ways. In this article, the use of Raman spectroscopy in food processes, such as fermentation, cooking, processed food manufacturing, and so on, are explored. The characteristics and difficulties of the Raman inspection of these processes are also discussed. According to the various research reports, Raman spectroscopy is a very powerful tool for monitoring these food processes in lab environments and is likely to see usage in situ in the future.     

The Goodmanham plane: Raman spectroscopic analysis of a Roman ivory artefact

Raman spectroscopy has been applied to the study of the exceptional ivory stock of an archaeological discovery of great importance for the history of woodworking tools: a virtually complete Roman plane that was found in a late fourth century A.D. context in North Yorkshire, UK, in A.D. 2000. An assessment has been made of the viability of Raman spectroscopy for the identification of ivories from archaeological excavations and comparisons made with similar studies of modern specimens. All of the attributed ivory specimens studied have suffered from deterioration in their burial environment, and severe degradation of their proteinaceous component was observed. In addition, spectral quality was affected through the absorption of fluorescent materials from their environment, and from the presence of emergency conservation procedures undertaken to preserve the integrity of very fragile specimens. The spectra of ivories dating from about 2000 years ago varied considerably because some specimens had experienced an almost complete leaching‐out of collagen, whereas in others, the degraded protein was still substantially identifiable. Generally, however, the protocols used successfully for the identification of modern ivories and for an assignment of their mammalian species were not transferable into archaeological ivory identification and classification because of the collagen degradation and decreased spectral quality. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Raman spectroscopic analysis of sulphur-doped TiO2 by co-grinding with TiS2

Doping sulphur into titania has been tried using TiS₂ as a doper based on the mechanically induced solid-state reaction between TiO₂ and TiS₂. The prepared samples have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and UV-Vis reflectance spectroscopy. Raman analysis, particularly has been proved to be effective in assessing the sulphur doping by correlating the oxygen deficiency of the doped oxide with the change of active Eg mode of rutile phase.     

Morphology of InN nanorods using spectroscopic Raman imaging

We report the vibrational properties of vertical and oblique InN nanorods (NRs) grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Surface optical (SO) Raman mode at 561 cm⁻¹, belonging to E₁ symmetry [SO(E₁)], is identified along with symmetry allowed Raman modes of E₂(low), E₂(high), and E₁(LO) at 87, 489, and 589 cm⁻¹, respectively, corresponding to wurtzite InN phase. Usually, SO phonon modes arise due to breakdown of translational symmetry of surface potential at surface defects, which are attributed by the surface roughness. Intensity distribution of E₁(LO) and SO(E₁) phonon modes over a specified area have been analysed using Raman area mapping with an optical resolution of 400 nm. Imaging with E₁(LO) phonon mode, originating from the bulk of the sample, distinguishes the vertical NRs alone. We are able to resolve NR morphologies in both vertical and oblique cases with additional Raman mapping analysis of SO(E₁) phonon mode, emerging from the surface irregularities, which are confined to the tip of MBE grown NRs. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Raman spectroscopy for the analysis of coal: a review

The advances in the characterization of amorphous carbons by Raman spectroscopy over the last four decades are of interest to many industries, especially those involving the combustion, gasification and pyrolysis of coal. Many researchers report on the Raman character of the natural organic matter in carbon‐containing compounds, such as coal, and relate the Raman bands to the structural order of the amorphous carbons. The basis of most of these studies evolved around the assignment of the G (graphitic, ∼1580 cm⁻¹) band to crystalline graphite and any other bands, called D bands, (disorder, various from 1100 to 1500 cm⁻¹) to any type of structural disorder in the graphitic structure. Concerning coal analysis, the information gained by Raman investigations has been used to describe char evolution as a function of temperature, the presence of catalysts and different gasification conditions. In addition, researchers looked at maturation, grade, doppleritization and many more aspects of interest. One aspect that has, however, not been addressed by most of the researchers is the natural inorganic matter (NIM) in the carbon‐containing compounds. Micro‐Raman spectroscopy (MRS) has many advantages over other characterization tools, i.e. in situ analysis, nondestructive, no sample preparation, low detection limit, micrometer‐scale characterization, versatility and sensitivity to many amorphous compounds. With the distinct advantages it has over that of other molecular characterization tools, such as powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier‐transform infrared spectrometry (FT‐IR) and scanning electron microscopy with X‐ray detection (SEM/EDS), it is surprising that it has not yet been fully exploited up to this point for the characterization of the NIM in coal and other amorphous carbons. This paper reviews the work published on the Raman characterization of the natural organic matter (NOM) of coals and reports on preliminary results of the NIM character of various South African coals, whereby various inorganic compounds and minerals in the coal have been characterized. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Raman spectroscopic study of various types of tourmalines

Both polarized and unpolarized Raman scattering studies of seven tourmalines from the Lucyen mines in Vietnam are presented. These tourmalines, according to their chemical compositions, can be classified into four groups: G1, liddicoatite; G2, elbaite; G3, uvite; and G4, feruvite. The Raman spectra were recorded in two spectral ranges, i.e. 150–1600 cm⁻¹ and 3000–4000 cm⁻¹. In the lower spectral range, which covers the metal ion‐oxygen bond vibrations, all the observed A₁ and E modes are identified. In the higher spectral range, we investigated the OH stretching vibrations and showed that all the observed OH stretching modes have the A₁ character. In both spectral ranges, we found that the same group classification of tourmalines can be applied, and the grouping characterizations are consistent with the chemical composition results. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Raman spectroscopic diagnosis of breast cancers: evaluation of models

Breast cancer is the leading cancer affecting women. Conventional screening and diagnostic methods are shown to suffer from well‐described limitations. The aim of this study was to evaluate Raman spectroscopic models, which were developed earlier, by blinded tissue samples. We have recorded Raman spectra of 69 blinded tissue samples. In each sample, six or more spectra were recorded at different locations. Pretreated spectra were matched against normal, malignant and benign standard sets to obtain a match/mismatch status, which in turn was correlated with histopathology. Among 69 samples analyzed, 61 could be unambiguously diagnosed as 29 normal, 17 malignant and 15 benign, as their spectra matched with only one standard set and mismatched against the others. In the cases of the remaining tissue samples, matching them against pathological sets was the determining criteria. These samples were diagnosed as pathological since at least one of the spectra of these tissues had matched with pathological sets. Thus, we demonstrate a good correlation between histopathology and Raman spectroscopic diagnosis. Therefore, findings of the study further support the efficacy of Raman spectroscopic models that were developed by us. Prospectively, by developing models for as many pathological conditions as possible followed by rigorous validation, objective/unambiguous Raman spectroscopic diagnosis of breast pathologies can be realized. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

低能离子束处理前后氨基酸和碱基的拉曼光谱研究

本文报导我们利用激光拉曼光谱获取低能离子束生物诱变信息的初步探索。初步的研究结果表明拉曼光谱可以给出离子注入前后生物分子结构突变或重组,分子结构突变与注入剂量的关系,分子的光催化修复、自然修复以及离子注入改变的光敏性等信息。     

Raman spectroscopic analysis differentiates between breast cancer cell lines

Breast cancer incident rates are increasing in women worldwide with the highest incidence rates reported in developing countries. Major breast cancer screening approaches like mammography, ultrasound, clinical breast examination (CBE) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are currently used but have their own limitations. Optical spectroscopy has attained great attention from biomedical researchers in recent years due to its non‐invasive and non‐destructive detection approach. Chemometrics is one of the powerful tools used in spectroscopic research to enhance its sensitivity. Raman spectroscopy, a vibrational spectroscopic approach, has been used to explore the chemical fingerprints of different biological tissues including normal and malignant types. This approach was used to characterize and differentiate two breast cancer and one normal breast cell lines (MDA‐MB‐436, MCF‐7 and MCF‐10A) using dispersive Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectra of the cell lines have revealed that basic differences in the concentration of biochemical compounds such as lipids, nucleic acids and protein Raman peaks were found to differ in intensity, and principal component analysis (PCA) was able to identify variations that lead to accurate and reliable separation of the three cell lines. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) model of three cell lines was predicted with 100% sensitivity and 91% specificity. We have shown that a combination of Raman spectroscopy and chemometrics are capable of differentiation between breast cancer cell lines. These variations may be useful in identifying new spectral markers to differentiate different subtypes of breast cancer although this needs confirmation in a larger panel of cell lines as well as clinical material. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Raman spectroscopic study of the uranyl carbonate rutherfordine

The molecular structure of the uranyl mineral rutherfordine has been investigated by the measurement of its Raman spectra at 298 and 77 K and complemented with infrared spectra. The infrared spectra of the (CO₃)²⁻ units in the anti‐symmetric stretching region show complexity with three sets of carbonate bands observed. This, combined with the observation of multiple bands in the (CO₃)²⁻ bending region in both Raman and IR spectra, suggests that both monodentate and bidentate (CO₃)²⁻ units are present in the structure in accordance with the X‐ray crystallographic studies. Complexity is also observed in the IR spectra of (UO₂)²⁺ anti‐symmetric stretching region and is attributed to non‐identical UO bonds. Both Raman and infrared spectra of the rutherfordine show the presence of both water and hydroxyl units in the structure, as evidenced by IR bands at 3562 and 3465 cm⁻¹ (OH) and 3343, 3185 and 2980 cm⁻¹ (H₂O). Raman spectra show the presence of four sharp bands at 3511, 3460, 3329 and 3151 cm⁻¹. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Colour diversification in octocorals based on conjugated polyenes: A Raman spectroscopic view

Polyenic pigments in octocorals have been investigated by Raman spectroscopy using laser excitation at 532, 785 and 1064 nm. The spectral features suggest the structural nature of carotenoids from Phyllogorgia dilatata, Leptogorgia punicea, Muricea atlantica, Carijoa riisei and conjugated polyenals from L. punicea, L. setacea, Muricea flamma and Renilla muelleri. The observed vibrational bands at ca. 1540–1520 ν₁(C=C), 1159 ν₂(C–C) and 1005 cm⁻¹ ρ₃(C–CH₃) were assigned to carotenoids, whereas the identification of non‐methylated conjugated polyenals have been proposed due to two major Raman bands at ca. 1500 and 1120 cm^‐1, assigned to ν(C=C) and ν(C–C), respectively. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Raman spectroscopic studies of ZnSe/GaAs interfaces

ZnSe/semi‐insulating GaAs interfaces were studied by observing photogenerated plasmon–LO (PPL) coupled modes by nonresonant micro‐Raman spectroscopy. The effect of the carriers generated by the focused laser beam was investigated for a series of different thicknesses of ZnSe epitaxial layers. The PPL mode in GaAs was observed in the micro‐Raman spectra for all samples, but with different magnitude. The plasma is believed to be an electron gas as a result of the negative nature of the interfacial region that contains predominantly hole traps. The free carrier concentration is estimated to be > 10¹⁸ cm⁻³ and their lifetime ∼0.1 ns. This relatively long lifetime suggests that the ZnSe/GaAs interface has to be of high structural quality leading to a low recombination velocity. ZnSe/GaAs heterostructures of less crystalline quality (as determined by resonant Raman measurements) shows the effect of photogenerated carriers only to lesser extent. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Raman spectroscopic studies of LixSiy compounds

The phase diagram of the Li–Si system contains several phases with Li and Si in well defined ratios. So far, only the Raman spectrum of LiSi has been reported. In this work, we present experimental Raman scattering results for the crystalline lithium silicide phases Li₁₂Si₇, Li₇Si₃, Li₁₃Si₄, and Li₂₁Si₅/Li₂₂Si₅, which show clearly distinguishable Raman modes. The experimental results are compared with theoretical data obtained by density functional theory calculations. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Raman spectroscopic study of the uranyl carbonate mineral voglite

Raman spectroscopy, complemented with infrared spectroscopy, was used to study the uranyl carbonate mineral voglite. The mineral has the formula Ca₂Cu²⁺ [(UO₂)(CO₃)₃](CO₃)^•6H₂O, and bands attributed to these vibrating units are readily identified in the Raman spectrum. Symmetric stretching modes at 836 and 1094 cm⁻¹ are assigned to ν₁(UO₂)²⁺ and ν₁(CO₃)²⁻ units, respectively. The ν₃ antisymmetric stretching modes of (UO₂)²⁺ are not observed in the Raman spectrum but may be readily observed in the infrared spectrum at 898 cm⁻¹. The ν₃ antisymmetric stretching mode of (CO₃)²⁻ is observed in the Raman spectrum at 1369 cm⁻¹ as a low intensity band as is also the ν₃(CO₃)²⁻ infrared modes at 1362, 1425, 1509 and 1566 cm⁻¹. No ν₂(CO₃)²⁻ Raman bending modes are observed for voglite. The Raman band at 749 cm⁻¹ and the two infrared bands at 747 and 709 cm⁻¹ are assigned to the ν₄(CO₃)²⁻ bending modes. U O bond and O H…O bond lengths in the structure of voglite were inferred from the infrared and Raman spectra. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Raman analysis of synthetic eritadenine

Eritadenine, 2(R),3(R)‐dihydroxy‐4‐(9‐adenyl)‐butyric acid, is a cholesterol‐reducing compound naturally occurring in the shitake mushroom (Lentinus edodes). To identify the unknown Raman spectrum of this compound, pure synthetic eritadenine was examined and the vibrational modes were assigned by following the synthesis pathway. This was accomplished by comparing the known spectra of the starting compounds adenine and D ‐ribose with the spectra of a synthesis intermediate, methyl 5‐(6‐Aminopurin‐9H‐9‐yl)‐2,3‐O‐isopropylidene‐5‐deoxy‐β‐D ‐ribofuranoside (MAIR) and eritadenine. In the Raman spectrum of eritadenine, a distinctive vibrational mode at 773 cm⁻¹ was detected and ascribed to vibrations in the carbon chain, ν(C C). A Raman line that arose at 1212 cm⁻¹, both in the Raman spectrum of MAIR and eritadenine, was also assigned to ν(C C). Additional Raman lines detected at 1526 and at 1583 cm⁻¹ in the Raman spectrum of MAIR and eritadenine were assigned to ν(N C) and a deformation of the purine ring structure. In these cases the vibrational modes are due to the linkage between adenine and the ribofuranoside moiety for MAIR, and between adenine and the carbon chain for eritadenine. This link is also the cause for the disappearance of adenine specific Raman lines in the spectrum of both MAIR and eritadenine. Several vibrations observed in the spectrum of D ‐ribose were not observed in the Raman spectrum of eritadenine due to the absence of the ribose ring structure. In the Raman spectrum of MAIR some of the D ‐ribose specific Raman lines disappeared due to the introduction of methyl and isopropylidene moieties to the ribose unit. With the approach presented in this study the so far unknown Raman spectrum of eritadenine could be successfully identified and is presented here for the first time. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Raman spectroscopic analysis and fast identification of several saturated monohydroxy alcohols

The Raman spectra of nine monohydroxy alcohols have been obtained by confocal Raman spectrometer at room temperature. Based on the Raman spectra, the density functional theory was used to analyze the characteristic Raman bands of monohydric alcohols. Through the discussion of the characteristic Raman bands and their corresponding assignment, four major Raman bands were selected to identify nine monohydric alcohols using principal component analysis and Euclidean distance. Finally, nine saturated monohydroxy alcohols can be distinguished exactly, and the recognition rate is 100%.     

A novel Raman spectroscopic approach to identify polymorphism in leflunomide: a combined experimental and theoretical study

Polymorphism is an important characteristic which affects the activity, solubility and other physical properties of a compound and can be induced by varying temperature, pressure and solvent. The presence and conversion of α to β polymorphic forms of an anti‐rheumatic drug leflunomide have been studied by temperature‐dependent and in situ Raman observations. Both α and β polymorphs were found to co‐exist in the temperature interval 367–372 K. The α form alone exists below 367 K and the β form alone above 373 K. The CO stretching band clearly demonstrates the α → β conversion because of breaking of N–H···O bond and formation of N–H···N bond. On cooling the Raman spectra suggest the irreversibility of this conversion. Thermodynamic stability, crystal parameters and surface morphology of both forms in the leflunomide powder used for the present study have been verified by differential scanning calorimetry, X‐ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.